Telephone toll apparatus.



No. 654,748. Patented my 3:, I900.

r. n. McBEBTY.

TELEPHONE TOLL APPARATUS.

, (Application filed Nov. is, 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Inventor;

wwq b h-isAttys.

Patented July 3| I900.

F. R. MGBEBTY TELEPHQNETOLL APPARATUS.

(Application filed Nov. 18, 1897.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

l nvento r= W @INEZYMRWQ b his A111 THE Nonms PETERS co.. PHOTO-LURE!" WASHINGTON 0, :2V

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK R. MOBERTY, OF DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TELEPHONE TOLL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 654,748, dated July 31, 1900. Application filed November 13. 1897. Serial No. 658,399. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern': H

Be it known that I, FRANK R. ,IYICBERTY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Downers Grove, in the county of Du Page and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Supervisory'Appliances for Telephone-Lines, (Case No. 57,) of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification.

This invention concerns the apparatus of telephone-lines for the use of which a toll is exacted or a registration of the use is required; and it consists in an appliance for signaling to the operator having charge of the line the deposit of the toll or the act of registering the use of the line at the substation.

Hitherto it has been usual in telephone switchboards to supervise connected telephone-lines or to determine'the condition of use or disuse of the line by means of the telephone at which the attendant listened which was temporarily connected with the diiferent pairs of united telephone-lines under her care. In the case of telephone-lines for the use of which a fixed toll was exacted an appliance has been provided at the substation to receive the required coin or to effect registration of the use of the line, which in its operation transmitted an audible signal to the operator,

so that an operator after completing conhection from a toll or pay station to the desired correspondent would instruct the calling subscriber to deposit a coin or to work a register, and would then listen for the signal showing that the required act had been performed. Switchboards of more modern type, however, are provided with visible signals before the operator indicating the condition of use or disuse of the telephones at the substations of two connected lines, the signals being operated by means of currents in the telephonelines determined by the position of the tele phones at the substations. These signals are termed supervisory? signals. By means of them the operator is continuously informed of the condition of the apparatus at the substations and is enabled 'to transmit call-signals at suitable times and to disconnect the lines without bringing her telephone into connection with united lines after completing connection between the lines. Her efficiency in receiving orders for connections and making the required connections is thereby very greatly increased. Prior to the present invention no means has been provided whereby an-operator employed in making connections at such a switchboard as that just described could insure the collection of a toll at a pay station or the registration of the use of the line. It is obvious that the link-conductors in such a switchboard must be employed in a uniform manner tomake connections between lines of usual character or between toll-lines and such ordinary lines, so that whatever signals may be transmitted from toll-stations should be capable of operating the supervisory signals in the usual Way. The present invention is addressed to this requirement of exchange systems wherein it is designed to associate with united lines supervisorysignals for showing the operator the condition of the line.

The invention consists generally in the combination, with the appliances at the substation and the supervisorysignal temporarily associated with the line in the central office, of circuits whose condition'is changed in the act of depositing a required toll or other act in lieu thereof at the substation to operate the supervisory signal.

It further consists in the combination, with a telephone line,a signal in the switchboard permanently associated with the line, and meansfor operating the signal to initiate a connection, of a supervisory signal designed for temporary association with the line, and circuits changed in the act of depositing a coin or other equivalent means to operate the supervisory signal.

It also contemplates the combination of two telephone-lines and a supervisory signal associated with each line, that referring to the called line being adapted to indicate to the operator the response of the party called and that referring to the calling line or toll-station being adapted to indicatethe deposit ofa toll in payment for the use of the line, whereby the operator is informed of the response of the called subscriber and is able to compel payment at the calling station.

I through the call-bell; but a condenser is in:

toll-station, whereby the use of the line is. registered, the intention being to require the.

payment of a sum proportionate to the number of usages of the line. Fig. .3 represents an appliance designed for use at toll-stations, which are employed as receiving-stations as well as for transmitting messages, whereby messages may be received without payment of toll and the uniform operation of the supervisory signals is maintained.

The apparatus at the substations comprises the usual call-bell a, telephones a and a and telephone-switch a The appliances at station A" are of the usual and well-known character and arrangement. The line conductors 1 and 2 ,are permanently united terposed in the circuit to prevent the flow of continuous current in the line when it is not inuse. The switch is constructed to close a bridge of the line-circuit through the telephones when the telephone is removed from the switch for use, permitting the flow of battery-current in the line. Thus there will nor- .mally be nocurrent in the line-circuit; but the removal of the telephone from its switch for use will permit the propagation of a current in the line by a suitable source of current at the central office. The line conductors 1 and 2 from the station are led through the switchcontacts of a spring-jack b in the switchboard. The conductor 1 is extended through the magnet-winding of a line-signal c to the free pole of a grounded battery d, which is common to the difierent lines of the exchange, while the otherline conductor 2 is led directlyto earth. The functions of the parts at station A, which represents the toll-station, are essentially similar, but the arrangement of circuits is.

difierent. There is also in addition to the usual appliances a coin-chute and a switch located therein. The coin-chute maybe arranged in proximity to the telephone-switch the normally-o pen terminal of line conductor 2. Wires 4 and 2 are united by a bridge 6, including a condenser a designed to permit telephonic communication through the circuit when switch-lever a and contacts a, are separated, while preventing the flow of batterycurrent in the circuit. It will be understood that the transmitting-telephone may be of any well-known or usual construction. It should preferably be provided with an induction-coil whose secondary windingv is placed in the line conductors, its primary winding being included, together with the transmitting-telephone, in a local circuit controlled by the telephone-switcher Line conductors 1 and 2 of this-lineare led through a springjack 1) to a signal 0 and to battery d, like those of line to station A. l The switchboard is furnished with pairs of plugs e and 6, adapted for insertion into spring-jacks 13, whose like contact-pieces are united by conductors 7 and 8, which constitute theplug-circuit. The usual calling-key f and listening-key ghave their switch-contacts connected with the plugcircuit for the purpose of connecting'a generator of calling current with plug e or of bringing the operators telephoneinto connection with the plug-circuit, respectively. A wire 9 forms a bridge of the plug-circuit 7 8. This wire includes a battery It or other source of current,together with impedancecoils 1 and 11 for preventing the shuntingof telephonic current through the bridge. In the conductor 8 of the plug-circuit, which is designed to unite wires 2 of the line-circuits, the magnet-windingsof two relays k and are interposed, one ateach side of the bridge 9. These relays control local circuits'containing' supervisory signals in the form of incandescent lamps Z and Z", one of which is associated with each of the plugs e and e. The spring j acks b are provided with ring-contacts m in addition to the usual line-contacts, and the plugs e and e are furnished with sleeves n n, adapted to register with these ring-con- .tacts m when the plugs are inserted in the and combined therewith in such a way that a stop is introduced into the path of the coin by the telephone-switch when relieved of the weightof thereceiving-telephone. A switchleverctprojects into the coin-chute in position to engage and be forced outward by a coin deposited in the chute and resting against the before mentioned stop. This switch lever a oscillates between a normal contact-anvil a and an alternate anvil a. Line conductor 1 is connected with the lever of a telephone- 65 switch a whence its circuit is ordinarily complete through 'a grounded conductor 3 to earth. The wire 3 includes the call-bell a,

' spring-3 acks. The ring-contactsof the springjacks are grounded through conductors 11, including resistance-coils. The sleevesn and n form the terminals of wires 12 and 13, leadingto a suitable battery, as d, and including the supervisory signal-lamps l and Z, respectively, of the corresponding plugs. The relay k controls a shunt about lamp 1, while relay 7c is similarly related to siguall.

In telephone-exchanges lines having tollcollecting appliances orinstruments for regis 'tering the use of the linesform a comparatively-small proportioniof the tel ephone-lines. Hence a very great proportion of connections made by means of plugs e and 6 will be with lines like that to station A, which may be taken as representing the normal exchangeline. The subscriber at the station of such a line will call for a connection by removing his telephone from its switch, whereupon the operator will insert the answering-plug e of a pair into the spring-jack b,cutting off the linesignal 0, and having learned the calling sub scribers order will complete the connection with another line similar to that to station A by inserting calling plug e into the spring-jack b of the line called for, at the same time trans Initting a signaling-current to'ring the bell at the called station. The insertion ofv these plugs into the spring-jacks of the correspondent lines will complete a circuit between the stations of the line, including the-line-wircs 1 and.2 and the plug-circuit 7 8. At the same time, however, a circuit will be completed through Wires 12 and 11 of the answering-plug and calling line, including the supervisory signal Z. The relay is will, however, be excited, inasmuch as the bridge of the line-circuit through the telephone is closed at the calling station, so that the signal Zwill be shunted and Will remain dark. Similarly a circuit made up of wires 13, terminating in the calling plug and 11 of the called line, will be formed, including lamp Z associated with the line called for. The signal Z will remain lighted until the called subscriber responds to the call by removing his telephone from its switch, when the line-circuit will be closed at his station and the relay is will become excited.

The mode of operation of supervisory signals in switchb'oards of the type to which this invention refers, as hereinbefore described,

is well known and familiar to those versed in telephony. It has been thus briefly traced in order that it may be contrasted with the mode of operation in connection with the present invention, which is as follows: A party desiring to use the telephone at station A to initiate a connection will signal the oflice in the usual way by merely removing the telephone from its switch. Thereby a circuit will be completed from line conductor 1 through wires 4 and 5 to earth, whereby the line-signal will be displayed. In compliance with the call the operator will insert the answering-plug 6 into the spring-jack b of the calling line and will call for the number of the required correspondent. The insertion of plug 6 into spring-jack 6 brings the wires 12 and 11 into connection and creates a closed circuit of the battery cZ through the signal Z. It will be observed, however, that in this case there is no complete circuit for the battery h in the plug-circuit, inasmuchas line-wire2, which is connected with the conductor 8 of the plugcircuit which includes the relay 7c, is open at the contact-piece at of the toll-collecting appliance. Hence the signal Z will remain lighted as long as the apparatus at the substation remains in the condition just described. The

operator is able to converse with the subscriber at the toll-station, since telephonic currents produced by her transmittingtelephone and by that at the substation are readily propagated through the condenser a Having learned the order, the operator will insert calling-plug 6 into the spring-jack of the line called for-for example, that to station A-and will ring the bell at that station. After performing this work she will disconnect her telephone from the circuit and proceed to attend to other calls. scriber at the called station removes his telephone from its switch, he permits current to flow from battery it through the line-circuit, which excites the relay 712, and thus brings about the shunting of signal-lamp Z. If desired, the operator may be required to observe this indication of the response of the correspondent and to instruct the user of the telephone at the calling station to deposit the re quired toll or do any equivalent act. It is preferable, however, that the subscriber at the called station shall be permitted to make the usual oral response to the call, which will When the subbe heard by the waiting party at the toll-station. After receiving the operators instructions or after hearing the oral response of his correspondent the party at the calling station will deposit a coin in the coin-chute, which, falling againstthe stop fixed to the telephoneswitch, will press the switch-lever a away from the contact-piece a and against contact a, whereby a conductive connection will be established between line conductors l and 2, including the telephones. Current from battery It will now flow through the conductors 7 and 8 of the plug-circuit to the toll-station and thence through the wire 4 there. Relay is will then become excited and will close its shunt about the lamp-signal Z. The disappearance of the signal will indicate to the operator that the required act has been performed at the toll-station. If the signal Z should fail to disappear within a reasonable interval after the disappearance of signal Z,

which latter indicates the response of the called party, the operator may bring her tele-- phone into connection with the line to ascertain the cause of the failure on the part of the user of the telephone at the toll-station to deposit the toll, or she may withdraw the plugs and disconnect the lines. In the normal operation 'of the appliances, however, the signal Z will become dark very soon after the disappearance of signal Z. After the completion of conversation between the correspondents the telephones at both stations will be replaced on their switches, whereby both supervisory relays 7c and 70 will be deprived of current and both lamps Z and Z will become lighted. The simultaneous illumination of these lamps may be accepted by the operator as a signal for disconnection, to be followed by the removal of the plugs from the springjacks. The replacement of the telephone on the switch at the toll-station willwithdraw the stop. carried by'the sw'itch from the coin-' chute, permitting the coin to drop into a cashbox, whereby'the switch-lever or will be allowed. toreturn'to its normal position Thus the operatoris permitted to use her ordinary] appliances in effecting connection between toll-lines and other lines and is enabledto visually supervise the acts of the users of the .telephones. Her work in connection with tolllines is performed with the same degree of counting-wheels 0, a pawl 0, impelled by a push button, for actuating the counting wheels, and a dog 0 carried by the push-blitton,in position to-engage a stud 0 on the telephone-switch when the latter is in its upper position relieved from the weight of the tele- Thus if the push-button be pressed phone. while the telephone is off its hook the counting-train will be advanced to record the pressureof the button andthe dog 0 will engage the stud 0 on the lever of the telephoneswitch, whereby the mechanism will be retained in the position of depression until the telephone isreplaced on its switch. Associated with the push-button is a switch comprising levers a and resting and alternate contacts a" and a, as before described. The

push-button in its normal position permitsthe switch-lever a to close against the contact-piece a and complete connection between wires 4-and-.5. When it has been pushed inward, the telephone having been previously removedrfrom its support, the switch-lever willbe thrustagainstcont'act-anvil a, closing connection between wires 4 and 2, in which position it will be retained until the telephone is returned to its support. taking the telephone from its switch for use ininitiating a call permits the telephoneswitch to close a circuit from limb 1 through the receiving-telephone a, and wires 4 and 5 to earth, the switch-lever a and theanvil a being in contact. When after receiving an order the operator directs that the connection be registeredby pushing the button at the substation, a subscriber must depress the button',.whereby the ground-circuit through wire :5 will be broken and a new circuit will be completed from the lever a to the V contact a, which will bring the telephone receiver a into aclosed bridge of the line and permit the flow .of current through the line-circuit for.

conversation. This movement of the lever by the button will bring the lever o -intoengagement with. catch. 0 of the telephoneswitch, so that the. lever will beheld by the telephone-switch as long asthe telephone re- In other words,

iln ain's oft its hook. When the telephone is replaced on the switch-hook, the lever 0 will be returned to its normal position by the force of the switch-spring a or otherwise, and its return movement will operate the countingtrain 0 to register the meet the telephone.

In certain instances it isdesirable that the toll-station may be used as a receiving-station, in which case the use of the telephone should not involve the payment of a toll or the register of such use. Fig. 3 shows an appliance for permitting the closure of the linejcircuit by the telephone-switch independently of the registering or coin-collecting ap paratus after a call has been received at the station. A switch-lever p, pivoted with friction near its center, has one extremity'provided with a dog which projects into thepath of a spring-catch p, carried on the lever 10 of the telephone-switch. The flat spring 9, which terminates in the catch, carries also a wedge-shaped cam 19 which is 'adaptedto register with a fixed pin or stud 19 The lever 19 carries the armature p of an electromagnet pi- While the lever of the telephoneswitch is in its lower position, the wedge p is in engagement with the'stud pf and the catch 19 is moved out of the path of movement of the extremity of lever p. Hence the lever is free to respond to theattraction of the magnet on armature 19 The lever 19 of the telephone-switch is free to move throughout its range in either direction without engaging the'lever 1) to move it. If, however, the magnet 11 be excited to move the lever 10 while the telephone is on its switch, the extremity of lever 19 will be brought into a path of the catch p. Then when the telephoneswitch is permitted to rise the catch 10 will pass the end of lever 10, after which, when the telephone-switch is again depressed, the lever pyill be carried to its normal position. Lever p controls the continuity of a circuit by means of a contact-an vil 19", against which it may be brought through the action of magnet 10 The magnet 10 is connected in series with the call-bell a at the toll-station in order that it may be excited by a calling-current sent to the substation. The lever p-and contact 19 form the terminals of a shunt-circuit from the conductor 2 to the wire 4, so that when the lever 19 is thrust against its anvil the line-circuit is closed independently of the coin -controlled switch, but subject to the action of the telephone-switch. It will be apparent that an incoming call-signal will place the appliances at the substation in such position that when the telephone is removed from its switch in response to'a call the linecircuit will be closed and willwork the supervisory signal associated with thecallingplug e in the usual way, so that connections made to toll-stations equipped with apparatus like that shown in Fig.3 may be treated like connections made to lines of ordinary arrange- .ment;

in Fig. 3 for placing The means disclosed the apparatus at a called toll-station in position for communication without the deposit of a toll of course is obviously representative of a large class of devices which might be employed to effect the same end-namely, to permit the operators act of making connection to the line as a called line to place the appliances at the called toll-station in a special relation whereby the operation of the signals in the switchboard should be independent of the deposit of tolls orother equivalent acts ordinarily necessitated in the use of the telephone. It will further be apparent that the circuits for initiating a call and those whereby the operation of the supervisory signal is made consequent on the deposit of a coin are merely examples of many arrangements and appliances which are familiar to those versed in telephony which could be caused to exercise the same functions which constitute the novel mode of operation in the present invention.

I claim as new and desire to ters Patent 1. The combination with a telephone-line and a coin collecting or registering appliance at the station thereof, of a supervisory visible signal at a central oflice associated with the line, and circuit connections changed through the agency of said coin-collecting appliance adapted to operate the supervisory signal; whereby the required act of payment is signaled to the operator without the use of her telephone, as described.

2. The combination with a telephone-line and a coin collecting or registering appliance at the station thereof, said line extending to a central office, of a source of current applied to the line at the central office, an electromagnet in the path of current in the line from said source controlling a visible supervisory 'signal associated with the line, and circuit connections adapted to be changed in the operation of said toll-collecting appliance to determine the flow of current from said source and thus to operate the supervisory signal, as described.

3. The combination with a telephone-line extending between a substation and a central ofiice, a line-signal for the line and a supervisory signal temporarily associated with the line in the central station, and a switch at the substation for controlling the operation of the said line and supervisory signals to call the oifice and to indicate the use of the telephone, respectively, of a toll-collecting appliance at secure by Letthe. substation, normal circuit connections permitting the operation of the line-signal by the switch at the substation, and other circuit connections and means for changing the same in the act of payment of the toll adapted to cause the operation of the supervisory signal, as described.

4. The combination with a telephone-line having a toll-collecting appliance at its substation, and means for making connection with the line throughthe agency of a plug and plug-circuit, of a visible supervisory signal associated with the plug, a source of current and a magnet controlling the signal in the path of current from the said source through the telephone-line, of a switch in the toll-collecting appliance actuated in payment of toll, and circuit connections at the substation adapted to determine the flow of current in the line controlled jointly by the said switch in the toll-collecting appliance and the telephone-switch, as described.

5. In combination, telephone -lines, each provided at its station with a switch for d etermining the flow of current in the line in the use of the telephone, spring-jacks for the lines in a switchboard, a pair of plugs and a plug-circuit for making connection between any two lines, and a supervisory signal associated with the answering-plug of said pair adapted to indicate current in the line with which it may be connected, a toll-collecting appliance at one of the stations, and a device associated with the said appliance and controlled in the act of payment of the toll adapt ed to prevent the closure of the telephone-circuit by the telephone-switch until the toll is paid; whereby the supervisory signal asso ciated with the answering-plug will indicate .the position of the telephone-switch at all stations except the toll-line, but will indicate the payment of toll at the toll-station, as described.

6. The combination with a telephone-line, a toll-collecting appliance at the substation thereof, a supervisory signal associated with the line at the central oifice, and means for bringing an operators telephone into circuit with the line, of a switch associated with the toll-collecting appliance to be actuated in the payment of toll, circuit connections and appliances completing the circuit as to telephonic currents only, and other circuit connections adapted to permit the flow of batterycurrent controlled by the said switch associated with the tollcollectin g appliance; whereby a user of the telephone may talk with an operator, and the payment of toll will be signaled to the operator without the use of her telephone, as described. 7 I

7. The combination with a telephone-line, a toll-collecting appliance at its substation, and a supervisory signal at a central oifice associated with the line, of an inductive device interposed in the telephone-circuit to transmit telephone-currents, a switch connected with the toll-collecting appliance and actuated in the payment of toll, and circuit connections completed by the said switch to op erate the supervisory signal, as described.

8. In combination, two telephone-lines, one of which is a toll-line, united in a complete circuit through link conductors to the central office, a supervisory signal associated with each line at the central oflice, and means at the called station for determining the flow of current in the line automatically in the use of the "telephone and for controlling the supervisory signal associated with the same line, a toll-collectin g appliance at the toll-station a switchassociated therewith to be actuated in the payment of toll, and circuit connections controlled by the switch adapted to operate the supervisory signal associated with the toll-line when the required payment 1s made; wherebythe response of the called subscriber is signaled to the operator and she is enabled to insure the payment of the required toll, as

described. l

9. In combination, two telephone-lines, one

of which is a toll-line, united throughthe agency of an. answering-plug connected with the toll-line, and a calling-plug connected with the other line, ofa supervisory signal associatedwith each of the plugs controlled by current in the corresponding line,and a source ofcurrent connected with the line, a toll-collecting appliance at the toll-station and a switch associated therewith to be actuated in the payment of toll, said switch being adaptedrto complete the line-circuit when payment is made, and a telephone-switch at the called substation adapted to complete the line during the use of the telephone; whereby the operator is informed of the response of v thecalled subscriber and of the payment of toll vby the user of the toll-line, as described.

10. The combination with a telephone-line, a line-signal permanently associated therewith in a switchboard, a supervisory signal adapted for temporary association with .the line in making connection with the line in a switchboard, of atelephone-switch at the sub station adapted to put circuit connections of the line in condition to operate either of the said signals when the telephone is removed from the hook, a toll-collecting appliance and a switch associated therewith to be actuated in the payment of toll and circuit connections.

thereof adapted to break the circuit of the line involved in the operation of the supervisorytsignal until the required payment is phoneswitchboard in a central office, link conductors for making connection between any two lines in the-switchboard, and two supervisory signals, one for each of two connected lines associated with the said lines in the switchboard, a switch at each substation adapted to change the circuits of the line to operate the said supervisory signal, one of said stations being a toll-station and being equipped with a toll-collecting appliance, the switch at said station being associated with the said appliance and actuated in the pay ment of toll, the switches at the other stations being adapted for actuation automatically in the use of the telephone; whereby the operator is enabled'to supervise connections between any two lines in a uniform manner and to determine the payment of the toll at the tollstation after the response of the called subscriber without aid of her teleph'one a's described. 1 1

- 12. The combination with -atelephone-line havingatoll-collectingappliance at its station, a supervisory signal associatedwith the line in a switchboard, anda switch connected with the toll-collecting appliance to be-actuated in the payme-ntof toll to operate the-said supervisory signal, of a device at the substation controlled at the central office adapted to v i change the circuits at the substation to cause the operation of said supervisory signal; whereby the operation of the; supervisory signal may be rendered independent of the said switch in the toll-collecting appliance, as described. 1 I

13. The combination with atelephone-line, a toll-collecting appliance at the station there- Of, a supervisory signal adapted -forconnec-- tion with the line in the switchboard at the central office to respond to current intheline, and a source of current in the line, o'f a te1e-- phone-switch and a switch in the toll-collecting appliance adapted to cooperate in chang- 0 ing the line-circuit to cause the operation of the supervisory signal, an electromagnetic switch adapted to make a change in the circuits equivalent to that produced by the switch associated with the toll-"collecting ap- 5 pliance, and means for exciting the said'elec- .tromagnetic switch automatically in making connection to theline; whereby the supervisory signal may be caused to indicate the use of the telephone independently of the switch in the toll-collecting appliance, as described.

14. In combinatioma toll-line and another line united ina circuit through the agency of a calling-plug connectedwith the toll-line, of an answering-plug connected with the said 10 5 other line, a supervisory signal associated with each of said plugs, each adapted toindi-- cate the flow of current in the corresponding line,- a toll-collecting appliance at the toll-station, a telephone-switch and a switch in said 1 1 toll-collecting appliance to be actuated in the payment of toll, circuit connections to complete the line controlled in the cooperation of said telephone-switch and said switch in the Y toll collecting appliance, -being completed II 5 when both switches are operated, an electromagnetic switch at the toll-station adapted when excited to effect the changes of'the circuit connections equivalent to those produced by the said switch in the toll-collectingap- 12o pliance, and means controlled through the agency of the calling-plug for applyingcurrent to the line to excite the said electromagnetic switch; whereby the operation of the supervisory signal of the: calling-plug is made 12 5 dependent on the position of the telephoneswitch when the toll-station is called, but is dependent on the payment of tollin connections initiated at the toll-station,a s described.

15. The combination with a telephone tollline, of an answering appliance for making connectionwith the line as a calling-line,and a calling appliance for making connection with the line in response to a call from another line; a supervisory signal associated with each of said appliances, a toll'collecting appliance at the substation, a telephone-switch adapted to change the circuits of the line to determine the flow of current in the line to operate the supervisory signal which may be associated with the line, a device in the tollcollecting appliance adapted to be operated in the payment of toll and constructed to prevent the said change of circuits by the telephone-switch until the toll is paid, an electromagnetic switch adapted, when excited, to make changes in the circuit equivalent to those produced by the said switch when moved in the payment of toll, and means for applying current to the telephone-line in making connection therewith to excite the electromagnetic switch, said means being made operative automatically in the use of the said calling appliance to make connection to the line; whereby the operation of the supervisory signal of the answering appliance is made dependent on the payment of toll while the operation of the supervisory signal of the calling appliance is made dependent only on the use of the telephone, as described.

16. The combination with telephone-lines and an answering and calling plug with their plug-circuit for uniting them, of a register or collecting device and a switch controlled thereby at one of the stations, said switch being adapted to close the path for current through the telephones at the substation, whereby the payment or registration may be insured, of a relay controlling circuit connections adapted to permit the passage of current in the telephones, and means for applying current to the calling-plug, to operate the said relay when the station provided with the same is called, as described.

17. The combination ata telephone pay-station with the telephone-switch, of circuit connections of the telephone line normally broken, adapted, when closed, to permit the circulation of current through the telephones, a toll collecting or registering device, and a switch operated in the actuation of said device, controlling said circuit connections, said switch being adapted to engage the telephoneswitch when operated, to be held thereby while the telephone is removed from the hook, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of September, A. D. 1897.

FRANK R. MOBERTY. Witnesses:

ELLA EDLER, DUNCAN E. WILLETT, 

